Today was a very special day at Alpine Meadows. First of all, visibility was very good. Although the sun was not shining out of a cloudless sky, the thin cloud cover allowed enough light to pass through so that I could finally see where I was going. I could view the entire mountain from top to bottom.
One thing that became very apparent with the lifting of low clouds, and the dying down of extreme winds, were the excessive wind drifts that were created as a result of the passing storms. The size of wind drifts on the mountain is impressive. Especially note worthy are the drifts at the top of Summit Chair. Skiing to Wolverine you will encounter these deep gullies created by the lengthy period of 100 mile per hour winds. Examples of these wind drifts can been at the top of Summit, on the upper slope of the Three Sisters, and under Kangaroo Chair.
Wind drift under Kangaroo Chair
Today we found a number of slopes that were as smooth as if they had been groomed. These areas, some had been previously skied, were smoothed out by the last breaths of wind that blew up their slopes. Included in the list are Sunspot, Palisades, Pygmy Forest, High and Low Yellow Gully, Fall Line, South Beaver Bowl, South Wolverine Bowl, D7, and Sun Bowl (as well as other areas accessed via the High Traverse).
Keyhole slope was open for the first time this year and looked smooth as a baby’s rear end. We ended our day skiing Counter Weight Gully where the snow was just a lovely skier winter pack. There just was not enough time to ski every trail, but they were all in very good condition. In my opinion, today was one of the better days of the season. Of course, some slopes were wind scoured leaving patches of ice to be negotiated, and others had that rough scoured look created by the winds, but these did not deter us from enjoying our favorite mountain on such a wonderful day.
Those that skied Sherwood indicated Sherwood Face was lovely, and I imagine South Face was also in good condition. We did not ride Lakeview or Scott today, but I was told the main runs off Lakeview were not that great.
I did not hear anyone complaining about the snow today. Most of the complaints I heard were grunts and groans from those who had over done it just a little. Perhaps too many hikes to the top of Beaver, Estelle or over the High Traverse.
By the way, if you thought Summit Chair was running a little slow today you would have been correct. I think it had to do with a circuit breaker that needs to be adjusted or replaced, because it evidently tripped when the lift was running at full speed. Another interesting item we noted were the windows that were blown out at the top of Summit Chair.
Today was just a great day on the mountain.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
The big drifts and windlips are pretty impressive. The one that is most impressive to me in the huge ones under the Kangaroo chair line. Also notable was that the upper terminal for Kangaroo, which currently sits in a hole in the snow.
Between that and the Wolverine Saddle, there is a lot of cat work needed!
What a fun day on the mountain with the bulk of traffic on the other side today.
I’m in full agreement and would add Promised Land was not today. Had two friends in from the East who had never skiied AM and loved it. Fun to see the mountain thru fresh eyes.
One of those windows was sticking up out of the snow where the cat track usually is to Wolverine Bowl. Almost skied right over it and wondered where the hell it came from.
did a few cornice drops down idiot’s delight and south beaver, both were fantastic today